Cisco formally retires Scientific Atlanta name

The inevitable finally happened: Cisco[1] has formally retired the name “Scientific Atlanta.” Cisco announced its purchase of SA, for about $7 billion, in 2005 (story here[2]).

What had been Scientific Atlanta will be known as Cisco’s Video Technology Group. Organizationally, there are no changes associated with the retirement of the SA name, according to a Cisco spokesperson.

The operation had been part of the Service Provider group and will continue to be, under Tony Bates, a Cisco SVP and GM of that group.

The only change is that Jim McDonald, SA's CEO since 1993, will give up his direct management responsibilities and will remain on with the company for a time as an adviser to Bates.

At trade shows, Cisco has been showing new products from SA with a Cisco logo. Some new products have a slightly different look, but the key change remains the logo.